WND EXCLUSIVE

Massive rescue proposed for trapped Christians

Kurds 'will be unable to stop' advance of ISIS stormtroopers

Bob Unruh joined WND in 2006 after nearly three decades with the Associated Press, as well as several Upper Midwest newspapers, where he covered everything from legislative battles and sports to tornadoes and homicidal survivalists. He is also a photographer whose scenic work has been used commercially.

RescueChristians.com Executive Director Keith Davis is thinking big when he talks about his plan, which already is getting under way, to rescue tens of thousands of Christians who fled to Iraq’s Kurdish territory when an ISIS army of jihadists took over vast regions of the troubled nation.

He’s talking about renting jets, leasing ships and setting up a global delivery system to transport Christians facing extermination to freedom-loving nations.

But then, the need is huge. There are estimates that up to 200,000 of the “diehard” Christians who resisted the resurgence of Muslim influence in Iraq over recent years finally have fled in front of ISIS, or Islamic State, orders that they convert to Islam, pay a “tax” or die.

The Christians are now behind lines of Kurdish military forces who have been active against ISIS. But analysts predict the Kurds ultimately will be no match for ISIS fighters who armed themselves with the latest U.S. military technology when Iraqi army soldiers fled.

So the Christians can expect extermination when ISIS ultimately moves against Kurdistan, analysts warn.

“The Kurds, no matter how many weapons we give them, will be unable to stop this onslaught,” Davies told WND. “The West needs to provide tens of thousands of troops today but will not. The 200,000 Christians in Kurdistan will have no where to go but to face jizya (a tax on non-Muslim subjects), convert or die.”

He said the alternative to total destruction for a population that has lived in the region for millenia is to help them escape Iraq.

He’s begun raising funds for what he expects to be an expensive undertaking. But he counts it worthwhile, hoping to save lives at the cost of about $1,000 each.

He’s working on a plan to use jetliners to carry thousands of Christians from Kurdish territory to Um Qasr. From there, a ship would carry the refugees to other nations.

“There are far too many refugees for the Kurds to take them on a permanent basis. And they can’t go back to their homes,” he told WND.

He said about two-thirds of the Christians already had left since the persecution started in 2003. The remaining “diehards” have seen firebombings, shootings, kidnappings and more.

Davies told WND the only nation that has confirmed it would take refugees is Australia. But he said other nations have indicated they would accept them if they arrive on their shores. He cited Britain, France, Germany, Italy and others.

He estimates the costs at hundreds of thousands of dollars for jet services, and more for the use of a ship that would be used to carry Christians to safety. He said his fundraising campaign already is well along toward its goal, but more help is needed.

He said it’s a sad reflection on the U.S. that it has not already stepped up to volunteer to accept fleeing Christians. Nor have the free nations of the world volunteered for airplane rescues, he said.

Leaving Iraqi Christians where they are isn’t an option, he said.

“A Kurdish commander came and told me: ‘We can’t hold the town, so we’re going to retreat,’” said Yohanna Petros Moshe, archbishop of Mosul, who fled to Erbil at midnight in a convoy.

He told the Financial Times:”The Kurdish leadership informed the people that they had to get out.”

The report said the Islamic State stormed through northern Iraq in a “lightning June offensive during which it took control of Mosul, Tikrit and other cities and seized U.S.-supplied military equipment from fleeing Iraqi troops.”